Pitt (4-4) vs. Virginia (6-2) Game Preview

One Reason Why Pitt Will Win

The running game is starting to kick it in at just the right time for the finishing kick.

The Panthers got 192 yards out of Qadree Ollison in the win over Syracuse a few weeks ago, and he tore off 149 yards against Duke as part of the team’s 484-yard day on the ground.

They don’t have to run well to win, but it’s a big part of bailing out the leaky defense.

Overall, teh Virginia run defense has been amazing, but it also hasn’t faced anyone who commits to the ground game. No one will confuse Pitt with Wisconsin when it comes to hammering away, but it can do it. At least the Panthers have to give it a shot and try to take control early on.

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One Reason Why Virginia Will Win

Virginia has been amazing on third downs, and that’s how it’s able to set the tone in game after game.

QB Bryce Perkins runs well, he’s just accurate enough on the key downs, and the chains keep on moving, converting 48% of the third down tries. So far this year, the Cavaliers are 5-0 when converting at least 45% of their chances.

Pitt has one of the nation’s worst defenses in the nation on third downs, letting teams convert a whopping 47% of their tries with each of the last five teams going way over the mark.

To take this to a whole other level, over the last month, UCF,S Syracuse and Duke were all over 55%, with the Blue Devils converting 62% of their chances.

Granted, Pitt won those games over Duke and the Orange, but when it comes to controlling games, it means a whole lot more to Perkins and the Cavs.